GLOCESTER — The first day of school for students at Ponaganset High School and Middle School will be Wednesday, two days later than scheduled, because of ongoing construction at the high school, according to acting Supt. Michael Barnes.

The elementary schools in Foster and Glocester will open tomorrow as previously scheduled. Elementary school teachers reported to work as early as Wednesday for professional training, according to Barnes.

Middle and high school teachers will report for orientation at the middle school, on Rustic Hill Road, tomorrow. The middle school opening is being delayed because students there share buses with high school students, according to Barnes.

The full day of classes will begin at 7:35 for the middle school and 7:50 a.m. for the high school.

Officially, it is a one-day postponement since all public schools in the state are closed on Tuesday for the primary election. Barnes said district officials met with the contractor of the high school building and the town officials on Friday before deciding on the delayed opening.

Construction will continue through the weekend at the high school, and the buildings will remain closed to students and faculty. Chepachet Fire Chief Robert G. Dauphinais and town Building and Zoning Official Lawrence G. Desormier, Jr. are conducting a fire and safety inspection over the weekend and again tomorrow, Barnes said.

“We want to be sure that the students are entering a building that is made ready for their return and approved to be safe,” he said.

The district is in the process of connecting the current high school and former middle school buildings, both located on Anan Wade Road, into one high school building.

Barnes says the old middle school will be opened for classes, and part of the current high school will be closed for renovations during the start of the school year.

Work on the project, which began last October, is set to be completed in June.

It is the second part of a $45.7-million bond approved by residents of Foster and Glocester in 2004. The first part, the construction of a 131,975-square-foot middle school at 7 Rustic Hill Rd., opened at the start of last school year.

District officials have said that the high school construction schedule was delayed at least two months because contract awards took longer than expected.

Over the summer, construction crews renovated the old middle school and built a new athletic complex and science wing. In the high school, the administrative offices were renovated.

A corridor connecting the two schools was completed, and structural upgrades, including plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, and heating-system improvements, were made.